More than half of the 37 ongoing national highway (NH) projects in Punjab have exceeded their scheduled completion timelines by over one year, raising concerns about mounting infrastructure bottlenecks in the state. Among these delayed projects, four major initiatives have come to a complete standstill.One of the most notable delayed projects is Delhi-Amritsar-Katra (DAK) Expressway, which continues to encounter setbacks, primarily due to land acquisition challenges and administrative hurdles. These delays have significantly slowed progress on the key corridor, considered vital for enhancing regional connectivity.Meanwhile, the 21 km, 4-lane road with paved shoulders, connecting Talwandi Sabo–Raman Road to the Refinery Road junction with Bathinda–Dabwali Road, is the only project expected to be completed on time.Officials have attributed the delays to a combination of factors, including land acquisition issues, inadequate coordination between state and central agencies and disruptions caused by environmental concerns.The Delhi-Amritsar-Katra Expressway, initially slated for earlier completion, has already been delayed by over two years. Authorities now project that the project will be completed by November 2026.Spanning 670 km, the expressway is expected to greatly improve connectivity between the national capital, Amritsar and Katra, providing a critical link for devotees and travellers alike.Other projects that have witnessed significant delays include the four-lane Amritsar–Ghoman–Tanda–Una section, the Amritsar (Airport Junction)–Ramdas stretch, the four/six-lane Ludhiana –Roopnagar Greenfield project andthe six-lane Amritsar–Bathinda corridor.Furthermore, the progress of four highway projects has either come to a complete halt or has been subjected to foreclosure or termination.These include the 4/6-lane Ludhiana–Roopnagar highway, which has been stalled since 2024, and three sections of the DAK Expressway (Phase-I Package VIII, Phase-I Package X and Phase-I Package XI), which have been put under foreclosure or termination. Officials cited land acquisition challenges or non-reimbursement of pond ash transportation cost by the state TPPs, leading contractors to halt work.Union Road Transport and Highways Minister Nitin Gadkari had also highlighted the lack of cooperation from the Punjab Government, warning that the National Highways Authority of India (NHAI) could terminate ongoing projects if issues persist.Public Works Department Minister Harbhajan Singh ETO could not be contacted for a comment.Meanwhile, nine highway projects, including the 19-km Zirakpur Bypass, are currently at the tender stage, while four projects have already been issued a Letter of Award (LOA).The situation is particularly concerning in Hoshiarpur district, where 14 out of 16 NH projects are reportedly facing substantial delays due to administrative challenges and external factors.